COVID-19 NEWS
Keep up with all the fast-moving novel coronavirus news, particularly as it impacts the Columbia Basin.
COVID-19 update
RITZVILLE — Adams County Health Department administrators have reported another death related to COVID-19, raising…
Samaritan’s COVID-19 number declines; more deaths in county
Samaritan Hospital in Moses Lake remains busy, although the number of COVID-19 patients is decreasing. And the Grant County Health District released information on more COVID-19 deaths.
Inslee: Nine out of 10 state workers complied with vaccine mandate
OLYMPIA — Gov. Jay Inslee said thanks to the more than 91% vaccination and exemption rate among state employees, essential state services should be relatively unaffected as the vaccination deadline passes on Monday.
Big Bend to require vaccination for all on-campus students
MOSES LAKE — Big Bend Community College announced Friday all students who want to attend classes on campus or instructional sites during the winter quarter will need to be vaccinated against COVID-19.
Schools adjust after cases of COVID-19
EPHRATA — A surge in COVID-19 cases in Grant and Adams counties required local school officials to make some adjustments, returning to a distance-learning format for quarantined classrooms or an entire building.
Samaritan sees drop in COVID-19 patients, handles staffing
The number of COVID-19 patients at Samaritan Hospital in Moses Lake has dropped about a couple of handfuls — 21 to 12 — since last week, but officials caution …
ML girl hospitalized with rare condition linked to COVID-19
The Rowe family, of Moses Lake, has been through a lot in the last couple of months, especially when their daughter developed a rare complication from COVID-19…
Samaritan faces staffing hurdles
Samaritan Hospital in Moses Lake continues to have staffing challenges and has not received help from the Department of Defense, as Gov. Jay Inslee said he ask…
State officials hopeful health care workers won’t quit, get fired
SPOKANE — Citing rising vaccination rates, state public health officials are hopeful large numbers of health care workers will not quit or be fired once Gov. Jay Inslee’s mandatory vaccination deadline is reached o…
Newhouse calls on Inslee to support a type of COVID-19 therapy, hospitals
Rep. Dan Newhouse, R-Wash., on Wednesday sent a letter to Gov. Inslee calling on him to prioritize and publicly acknowledge the success and the availability of monoclonal antibody therapy as a tool that has the abi…
Samaritan Hospital postpones elective procedures
MOSES LAKE — All elective surgical procedures at Samaritan Hospital will be postponed until at least Oct. 1, hospital officials announced Wednesday, due to “su…
Governor asks feds for medical staffing help; Samaritan sees severe challenges
Samaritan Hospital in Moses Lake hadn’t heard of any help on Monday.
COVID-19 still looms large for Samaritan
Samaritan Hospital in Moses Lake, like those throughout the country, continues to provide care for patients with COVID-19.
Hospitals, health district deal with COVID-19 surge
MOSES LAKE — Regional hospitals are dealing with an influx of patients with COVID-19, according to information from Samaritan Healthcare of Moses Lake and Conf…
Hospital deals with COVID-19 surge
Samaritan’s chief medical officer, Dr. Andrea Carter, will have a free Zoom discussion at 10 a.m. Friday for anyone.
Counts for COVID-19 continue
MOSES LAKE — The count of COVID-19 cases in the area continues, although the figures can differ depending where and when one looks.